Dielectric Constant

April 22, 2020 Chris Wollbrink

There are some properties that are taken for granted with wires and cables until they are needed for precision applications. A conductor’s conductivity is assumed until the impact of a voltage drop or heating must be determined. In the same way, a cable’s dielectric constant is uninteresting until the integrity of high-frequency signals becomes critical.

This last property (dielectric constant), is important not only for cable insulations but also for a wide range of applications.

The Impact of a Short Circuit on Conductor Performance

March 17, 2020 Laura Wishart

Over-current and shorting are an ever-present risk to power wires and cables. The hope is that circuit protection can quickly respond to over-current conditions fast enough to prevent any damage to the circuit components. Wire conductors have a temperature rating, limited by the plating, because that is the established temperature for long-term reliability. But what happens when a single wire is exposed to repeat over-current conditions? Does the latest generation of circuit protection sufficiently protect the wiring? Read more

Maximizing Electrical Component Performance

June 9, 2017 Michael Traskos

Most components for electrical systems will have an accompanying product specification or product information sheet. These information sheets contain a lot of information that include mechanical, thermal, and electrical performance and this information is regularly used by engineers to make technical decisions. This performance information is necessary to reduce engineering time and avoid the need […] Read more

AS4373 – Testing Aerospace Cables – Part 1

January 10, 2017 Michael Traskos

When testing aerospace wire, there are several test standards that might be considered; however, the one that is most commonly referenced is the SAE AS4373 “Test Methods for Insulated Electric Wire” which covers a wide range of mechanical, electrical, environmental, and workmanship tests. In this first article of a two part series, we describe the […] Read more

Electrical tests for aircraft wires and cables

January 26, 2015 Michael Traskos

Equipment installed onto aircraft goes through a range of tests designed to verify that the component meets the operational needs and environmental factors. For wires and cables, these tests include chemical exposure, thermal, mechanical, and electrical testing. We have already covered mechanical tests in our Assessment of Mechanical Stress on Wire Insulation article, as well […] Read more

Electrical Testing